Long Island Radio Hosts Apologize for Fake Anti-Gay Note

John MittyTuesday, February 18, 2014

Steve Harper and Leeana Karlson, morning radio hosts on Long Island pop station WKJY (K-98.3 FM), posted an apology to the station’s website on Friday for discussing an anti-gay note on the air which turned out to be fictitious. The two created the fake note and posted it to the Facebook page for the station without management approval.

The note was written on a birthday invitation for a girl named “Sophia.” The fictitious mother wrote a note to the parents stating that her son “Tommy” would not be allowed to attend Sophia’s party, on the basis that Sophia’s parents were gay, and “I do not believe in what you do and will not subject my innocent son to your lifestyle.” Since the information circulated that the note was a lie, Harper and Karlson pulled down the screenshot of the fake note, and posted an apology with the explanation that they were trying to create “healthy discourse on a highly passionate topic. We are very sorry that we perpetuated this falsehood, even after it was clear that it had taken on a life of its own,” they stated. WKJY has stated that they are looking at “all courses of action” to remedy the situation, and that they do all in their power to present only accurate information on the air.

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